STRUCTURE OF PRIVATE DWELLING
JUSTIFICATION
Users require data on dwelling structure, especially at the small area level, to determine urban form and density. Analysis of dwelling structure cross-classified with other Census characteristics, is an important indicator of social well being.
The data are also used for providing the benchmark for regular estimates of the different types of housing available.
Initiatives in housing policy such as the National Housing Strategy have strengthened the need for detailed information about Australia’s housing stock.
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
A question on class of dwelling has been asked in every Census since 1911.
Caravans have been included as a response option since 1961 and caravans in caravan parks were first enumerated with household forms in 1986.
Traditionally the Census has defined a dwelling as the space occupied by a household. Therefore, where a dwelling unit was shared by more than a single household, a Census form was supposed to be issued to each household. It was thought that this procedure might lead to an over-count of dwellings in the Census. However, studies in the lead up to the 1996 Census showed that Census Collectors were, in fact, treating each dwelling as a single household and the Census was not over-counting dwellings.
For the 2006 Census, the definition of a household was changed to incorporate all usual residents of a private dwelling.
The question is answered by the Census Collector, which contributes marginally to collection costs but requires no response by the public. For the 2006 Census, this question was included in the collector record book (CRB) rather than on the back of the Census form.
USER REQUIREMENTS
Information about the structure of private dwellings is required:
- at the small area level, to determine urban form and density
- cross classified with other Census questions, as an important indicator of social well being
- for the provision of benchmarks for estimates of the availability of different dwelling types
- for planning and monitoring purposes, for a range of government housing initiatives.
Structure of private dwelling data are used:
- to determine changes in housing patterns
- to review existing housing stock for use in housing policy advice
- for land use forecasting
- for transport planning.
This data is required at the small area level and for small population groups.
AVAILABILITY OF NON-CENSUS DATA
Data about additions to the stock of private dwellings is collected through the quarterly Building Activity Survey, results released in Building Activity, Australia (cat. no. 8752.0).
Information on type of dwelling has also been collected in housing and energy surveys conducted by the ABS.
Data on dwelling structures are available from the Survey of Income and Housing 2005-06, results released in: Housing Occupancy and Costs, Australia, 2005-06 (cat. no. 4130.0.55.001), which is expected to be released in October 2007.
Because of small sample sizes, surveys cannot provide small area data.
POSSIBLE CHANGES FOR 2011
A review of the definitions of each category will be undertaken to ensure the concepts for this topic continue to be appropriately captured by Census Collectors.
2006 CENSUS QUESTION
(Answered by Census Collector)
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